The preliminary design for the forest trails construction project in Tianhe district of Guangzhou – capital of South China's Guangdong province – recently passed an expert review and work on it is scheduled to start in November.

Following the core principles of being "close to nature, low impact and zero damage", 41.65 kilometers of forest trails will be laid down and upgraded.

They're set to connect the three major forest parks – Huolu Mountain, Longyandong and Fenghuang Mountain – and over 20 key scenic spots along the route.

The project aims to enhance overall services by improving facilities such as visitor centers, entrance plazas, gate signage, hiking rest platforms and educational and safety signage.

In tandem with the trail construction, ecological restoration and forest structure improvement will be undertaken. This will help develop a diverse range of ecological service products through continuous project refinement and management over the ensuing years.

Lush, fertile green forests spread out in the Tianhe region. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Currently, Tianhe is moving to establish the Huolu Mountain-Longyandong-Fenghuang Mountain forest parks as a green and beautiful demonstration site – with a particular emphasis on creating the "South China National Botanical Garden-Huolu Mountain" ecological green core.

The effort aims to transform the northern area of Tianhe into a high-quality ecological civilization demonstration zone, where people can truly connect with nature and appreciate the environment.

Looking ahead, officials say Tianhe plans to initiate cultural and tourism project planning and operations. By introducing various events such as hiking, trail running and marathons – and engaging diverse social forces in joint operations – they say the district aims to enrich its cultural and ecological offerings.